21 Will Be New Age To Buy Tobacco In Washington

SEATTLE, WA — Washington is set to become the eighth state in the U.S. to raise the age to buy tobacco to 21.

Under the new law, passed Wednesday in the state Legislature, you would have to be 21 to buy products like cigarettes and chewing tobacco — and electronic cigarettes. The measure now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee's desk for signing.

The law was backed in Washington by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. The organization said the measure is aimed at preventing young people from smoking.

"We know the tobacco industry preys on young people to replace the adults dying from their products, and too many children become addicted before they grow up," Washington American Cancer Society government relations director Mary McHale said in a statement. "Many of these kids become regular daily smokers between ages 18 and 21, and the longer we can keep tobacco products away from them, the less likely they will start. In fact, 95 percent of adults who smoke begin before age 21."

As of March 1, Hawaii, California, New Jersey, Oregon, Maine, Massachusetts, and Virginia had either already raised the age to 21 or will soon. In addition, dozens of cities around the country have raised the age to 21.